Lower Manhattan, Bird's-eye view

Bird's-eye view of Lower Manhattan, published by Detroit Publishing Co., M.J. Connors, copyright 1915. Illustration shows a cityscape with skyscrapers, Hudson River (left), West Street Building, Whitehall Building and Annex, Aquarium, U.S. Custom House, Battery Park, Municipal ferries, Pier A, bridges over the East River and much more. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

By 1915, the population of New York City’s was more than five million residences and growing with a large influx of immigrants. The years of 1910s were of great physical and cultural transformation in Manhattan. Growth was shifting further north, specially after the opening of the first subway line in 1904, connecting to Times Square. Singer Building and Woolworth Building were two of the world's tallest building.